Why Capcom Remade Okami

Okami is one of the most beautiful games ever realized. Released in 2006 for PlayStation 2, it’s coming back as a HD re-release for PS3, with Move support. Shown at Gamescom and at TGS, Capcom’s game puts you in the role of a wolf-god with an artistic ability to recreate its surroundings, using a paintbrush and calligraphic skills to swish through an ancient world.

We caught up with Natsuki Shiozawa, producer of the game, to find out about its progress.

IGN: The game's visuals are what people remember best about Okami. Why do you think gamers love this look so much?

Natsuki Shiozawa: The unique Japanese visual style of the game is something that separates it from other titles. Various filters were applied to the graphics in order to create that feeling of a calligraphy brush painting on Japanese paper. Also, the visual style matches the various game environments, which show the beauty of nature and all the color it has to offer. In addition to the distinct visual style, fans resonated with the characters as well as the story, which focuses on universal themes such as love, belief, and compassion. All these things put together is what allows the game to make such a lasting impression on players and fans.

IGN: How do you plan to ensure that the unique fluid style of the original PS2 version be retained in HD?

Natsuki Shiozawa: Actually, when we first started development, we weren’t sure how the game would look when converted to full HD, and all felt very anxious. However, when we finally saw the game running in full HD, all of us thought, ‘this is truly what Okami was meant to be,’ and were floored by the results. In fact, other Capcom staff that just happened to be walking by all stopped in their tracks to marvel at the beauty of the game.

IGN: Do you see this game as being pitched at Move users or will it have appeal for people who prefer traditional controllers?

Natsuki Shiozawa: Choose the control scheme that you feel most comfortable with. Having played the PS2 version a lot, I am used to playing with the normal controller. However, you’ll find that when playing with Move gives you a whole new experience, since it allows you to use the Celestial Brush through natural motions.

IGN: As a creator, what are your feelings about working on this game?

Natsuki Shiozawa: I feel extremely proud. I am able to say to anyone and everyone, ‘This game is amazing. Please give it a try’. There aren’t a lot of titles which truly live up to that kind of praise. We worked on preserving the original Okami experience while providing a new way for players to enjoy the game, and we’re very excited to share this new version with fans who have played the previous versions as well as new players who have never experienced Okami before.

IGN: Many of us believe it should have been much more of a commercial success in the West. Why do you think it suffered from poor sales?

Natsuki Shiozawa: The game had many elements that many have been unfamiliar to Western players. For example, the brush system and the fact that the main character was a wolf, might have made it hard for users to imagine themselves. A comment we hear often from users is, ‘I heard Okami is a great game, but I’ve never had the chance to play it.’ That is one reason why we are releasing this HD remake.

IGN: Why remake a game that didn't sell all that well in the first place?

Natsuki Shiozawa: Through the use of HD technology, we are able to bring the true Okami experience to a whole new generation of gamers, and that alone warrants the development of this game.

IGN: How would you describe the experience of playing this game to someone who is used to playing gritty combat games?

Natsuki Shiozawa: Okami is a truly unique experience that you need to try out for yourself to truly understand. The elements that make up the game, be it characters, story, gameplay are all things that are very different than normal action games.